CRP—Marker or Maker of Cardiovascular Disease?

Jan Nilsson C -reactive protein (CRP) has emerged as an interesting novel and potentially clinically useful marker for increased cardiovascular risk. This is an attractive concept because atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by chronic arterial inflammation Based on data obtained primarily from in vitro studies it has also been proposed that CRP in itself is actively contributing to disease progression and that it should be considered as true risk factor and consequently as a target for intervention. However, in the present issue of Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, two independent reports demonstrate that transgenic overexpression of CRP does not affect the development of atherosclerosis in mice, suggesting that this is not the case.